Household appliance comprising a control element and a display element

ABSTRACT

A household appliance includes at least one display element, at least one control element, and a program control module. The control element can: set and select a number of user identifications; set a first program parameter setting for a first program sequence of a first program and for a second program sequence of a second program; assign the first program parameter setting to a first user identification; store the first program parameter setting under the first user identification; select, under the first user identification, the first program and thereby retrieve the first program parameter setting; and select, under the first user identification, the second program and thereby retrieve the first program parameter setting.

The present invention relates to a household appliance of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1.

A household appliance of this type is known, for example, from German Patent DE 197 01 033 C2. This household appliance has a display element and various control elements which are arranged in an ergonomically and visually advantageous manner. Moreover, this known household appliance includes a control unit which, for example, allows information about the operation of the household appliance to be set via the control elements and to be displayed via the display element. Furthermore, the known household appliance can be programmed to support display in different languages.

The known household appliance has the disadvantage that the use of a plurality of programs, program parameters and setting options for the parameters results in impaired clarity. However, consumer behavior is increasingly characterized by individual preferences, which leads to an increase in setting options of household and kitchen appliances. The adaptation of household appliances to increased customer requirements, i.e., allowing appliances to be set to personal preferences, leads to a further disadvantage of the known appliances: when used by several users, individual settings must be reentered each time the user changes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a household appliance which provides improved clarity when a plurality of programs, program parameters and setting options for the program parameters are available, and which allows programs that are modified by or for a user or user group to be called up repeatedly.

This objective is achieved according to the present invention by the features of Patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and refinements of the present invention will become apparent from the following dependent claims.

In addition to improved clarity, which simplifies the operation of the household appliance, a particular advantage that can be achieved with the present invention is that a setting of the program parameter(s) selected by or for a user or user group is stored under a user identification, and can be called up by selecting a program, allowing repeated use of programs that have been modified by or for a user or user group. In the case of repeated use by a user or user group having similar preferences, the operation is made much easier, thus saving considerable time, especially when a plurality of programs, program parameters and setting options for the program parameter are available, and in the case of frequently changing users.

In principle, the control and display elements are freely selectable in terms of the functions assigned thereto. Suitably, a first control element is designed to select the program, and a second control element is designed to select and set the program parameter, as well as to assign the setting to the user identification; the first control element being associated with a first display element and the second control element being associated with a second display element.

In an advantageous refinement of the teaching according to the present invention, it is proposed that by setting at least a first program parameter in a first program, a second program parameter corresponding to the first program parameter is set in a second program. This eliminates the need to repeatedly set a program parameter for different programs, thus allowing simple and time-saving modification of several programs.

In a further advantageous refinement, it is proposed that at least one control element have a key, because keys are suitable components for confirming entries or settings and, in addition, are inexpensive.

In an advantageous refinement of the aforementioned embodiment, it is proposed that at least one control element be a rotary encoder with an integrated key feature. In this manner, programs, program parameters and settings of the parameters can be quickly selected in fine steps.

In another advantageous refinement of the teaching according to the present invention, a protective means is provided to prevent unauthorized or unwanted entry of settings under a user identification, thus preventing inadvertent or improper change of the settings stored under a user identification.

In an advantageous refinement of the aforementioned embodiment, it is proposed that access to a user identification be password-protected. Thus, access is restricted in a simple and largely reliable manner.

In an advantageous refinement of the teaching according to the present invention, it is proposed that the input selection of an individual user identification or from a group of user identifications be displayable on the first and/or second display element(s). In this manner, while operating the household appliance, the user is constantly informed of whether he/she uses a particular user identification. Furthermore, it is possible to display the name of the particular user identification as well.

In an advantageous further development, it is proposed that one user identification be in the form of a standard user identification; the data processing means automatically switching from any user identification to the standard user identification as a function of a predetermined switching criterion. This allows the user, for example, to enter, store and call up settings under a standard user identification that is freely accessible to all. This also provides reliable protection against unwanted settings under the other user identifications in case the other user identifications are not protected by protective means.

If the household appliance according to the present invention is a beverage preparing device, it is particularly advantageous that the setting of at least one program parameter can be stored under the user identification by the dispensing operation. This further simplifies the operation, because one control operation will both cause the beverage to be dispensed, and store the setting.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawing in purely schematic way and will be described in more detail below. In the drawing,

FIG. 1 shows a detail of a household appliance according to the present invention in a partial and simplified view; and

FIG. 2 is a simplified view of the inventive household appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a household appliance according to the present invention in an operating state. In this exemplary embodiment, the household appliance according to the present invention is a beverage preparing device 2 having a control and display panel 4 shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. A control element 6 for selecting a program of the beverage preparing device is provided in the left half of control and display panel 4. The programs and the entries made via control element 6 are displayed on a display element 8 so that control element 6 and display element 8 are associated with one another. These programs include, for example, the dispensing of different types of coffee, rinsing, descaling, dispensing of hot water or vapor, as well as the setting mode. A control element 10 for selecting the program parameters and for assigning the program parameters to a user identification is provided in the right half of control and display panel 4. The program parameters and the user identification as well as the entries made via control element 10 are displayed on a display element 12 so that control element 10 and display element 12 are associated with one another. The program parameters include, for example, cup size, temperature level, illumination, language, water hardness, automatic on and off times of the beverage preparing device or of other functions.

In this exemplary embodiment, control elements 6 and 10 are designed as rotary encoders with an integrated key feature so that the programs, program parameters and user identifications associated with control and display elements 6, 8 and 10, 12, respectively, are displayed highlighted in color by rotating control element 6, 10 clockwise or counterclockwise, and are selected by operating the key feature of control element 6, 10. Display elements 8, 12 are designed as graphics displays so that both plaintext and graphic symbols and numbers can be displayed individually or in combination. Since the beverage preparing device of FIG. 2 is a compact device, the contents that appear on display elements 8, 12 are structured hierarchically so that display elements 8, 12 are designed in a space-saving manner. Moreover, the associated control and display elements 6 and 8 as well as 10 and 12, respectively, are disposed close together to further improve the clarity of operation. Clarity is also improved by a greater distance of control and display elements 6 and 8 with respect to control and display elements 10 and 12.

Also provided in the above exemplary embodiment is a program control module (not shown) including a microprocessor as the data processing means as well as a data memory. Control and display elements 6, 8, 10 and 12 as well as the data memory are connected via electrical conductors to the microprocessor, allowing data exchange between the microprocessor and display elements 6, 8, 10 and 12 and the data memory. In this manner, it is possible to make settings to the program parameters via control elements 6 and 10, to assign these settings to a user identification which is also entered via control elements 6 and 10, and to store these settings under this user identification. If the beverage preparing device is activated under a user identification, then selection of a program via control element 6 will cause the program parameters required for executing the selected program to be called up from the data memory along with their settings, and to be used for the program sequence. For reasons of space and, in particular, because of technical requirements, the program control module of the beverage preparing device according to the present invention is only partially disposed in close proximity to control and display panel 4, and is in communication, via electrical conductors (not shown), with a power section (also not shown in FIG. 1) so that signals are exchanged between the microprocessor and the power section.

FIG. 2 is a simplified view of the beverage preparing device 2 of FIG. 1 as a household appliance according to the present invention. The detail shown in FIG. 1 is located in the upper region of the beverage preparing device depicted in FIG. 2.

The use of the above beverage preparing device 2 is described below, by way of example, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2:

Beverage preparing device 2 of FIG. 2 is turned off and its heating element is at operating temperature. When operating the key feature of control element 10, the user identification that was used last appears on display element 12. The user can display the existing user identifications in succession on display element 12 by turning control element 10. The desired user identification is selected by user the by operating the key feature of control element 10. Operation of the key feature of control element 6 turns on the beverage preparing device 2, and the settings of a last dispensing operation carried out under this user identification are transferred from the data memory to the microprocessor, and are partially indicated on display elements 8 and 12. For example, the type of coffee of the last dispensing operation is indicated as a program on display element 8, and the cup size that was used last for this type of coffee is indicated on display element 12 as the program parameter. As can be seen from FIG. 1, other information and instructions are also displayed. If, at the time the beverage preparing device 2 is turned on, its heating element has not yet reached operating temperature, then, for example, the message “Warming up. Please wait!” appears on display element 12. If the user wishes to accept the program parameter settings, he/she starts the dispensing operation by operating the key feature of control element 10 once more. This starts the program which ultimately causes the type of coffee to be dispensed that was used for the last dispensing operation under the user identification. The program parameter settings of this program that are stored under the user identification are used by the microprocessor for the program sequence. Using control element 6, the user can also select other programs; program parameter settings of these programs that are stored correspondingly under the user identification being used for the program sequence of these programs.

Furthermore, the user has the possibility to change the program parameter settings. The program parameters intended to be set by the user include, for example, the following: cup size, volume and temperature level of a small cup, a large cup, and of a cup for which the double amount of coffee is used, language, and illumination setting. In this exemplary embodiment, the program parameters are all set and stored by starting the dispensing operation, except for the latter three, which are set and stored using the setting mode. In both cases, storage is done under the previously selected user identification. In this exemplary embodiment, a setting made in one program sets the corresponding program parameter in another program in the case of the following program parameters: volume and temperature level of the small cup, the large cup, and of the cup for which the double amount of coffee is used. For example, all programs using a large cup are intended to dispense the same amount.

Other program parameters can advantageously be set equally for all users, such as an assignment of coffee types to individual containers in beverage preparing device 2, type designation, water hardness, time to standby which restarts after each use and after the elapse of which the beverage preparing device 2 is reset from a first operating mode, in which all functions are available, to a second operating mode, in which individual functions, such as indication on display elements 8, 12, are not available, as well as automatically controlled descaling operations. In this exemplary embodiment, these program parameters are not intended to be set individually for individual users.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a start and stop time as a program parameter for a standby mode in which, for example, the heating element of beverage preparing device 2 is automatically maintained at operating temperature while other functions are disabled.

Moreover, the user identification can be used to charge for the amount of coffee used in a personalized manner. Since the exemplary embodiment includes a Nespresso system, in which the coffee is portioned in capsules, this can be done in a particularly simple way by counting the capsules. In order to prevent misuse, it is possible to link access to the respective user identification along with the entry of a password.

When beverage preparing device 2 is turned on, the program parameter settings made can also be stored by the user under a new user identification. To this end, the user turns control element 6 until the letter “E” for the setting mode is highlighted in color on display element 8. In this manner, the setting mode is selected, and the parameters that can be set using the setting mode are indicated on display element 12. The user turns control element 10 until a symbol for a programming mode is highlighted in color on display element 12. Operation of the key feature of control element 10 selects the programming mode, and the settable parameters are indicated on display element 12. The user turns control element 10 until a symbol for a user identification setting mode is highlighted in color on display element 12. Operation of the key feature of control element 10 selects the user identification setting mode, and the new user identification is entered via control element 10 as described above. The selection is indicated on display element 12. Once the entry is completed, it is confirmed via control element 10, and the program parameter settings made are automatically stored under the new user identification.

As an alternative to setting the user identification as indicated above, it is also possible to select the user identification setting mode analogously to the selection of setting mode “E”. In this case, display element 8 also shows the symbol for the user identification setting mode in addition to the letter “E”. Then, the user identification setting mode is selected by operating the control element 6 as explained above so that, unlike the aforementioned embodiment, the already existing user identifications appear immediately on display element 12. The further procedure for entering a new user identification is carried out as described above. In this manner, the operation is further simplified for the user, because one operating step has been eliminated.

A second exemplary embodiment of the teaching of the present invention, which is not shown in the Figures, is also directed to a beverage preparing device. Unlike the first exemplary embodiment, this beverage preparing device has a large display element designed as a graphics display with which are also associated two control elements designed similarly to control elements 6 and 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the display of the display element is divided into two areas by a dividing line, resulting in two display areas that are similar to first and second display elements 8, 12 of the first exemplary embodiment. However, in a departure from this, the display element can also be used as a single display.

The mode of operation of the beverage preparing device of the second exemplary embodiment is analogous to that of the first exemplary embodiment, except for the differences explained below:

The beverage preparing device is turned off. Pressing the control element that corresponds to control element 6 turns on the beverage preparing device, and the display shows, inter alia, a symbol indicating to the user that a user identification other than the standard user identification has been selected. In this exemplary embodiment, it is possible to enter, store and call up settings, independently of protective means existing for other user identifications to prevent unauthorized or unwanted entry of settings under the respective user identification. If the user identification selected last were the standard user identification, then the aforementioned symbol would not be displayed. In a departure from this exemplary embodiment, it is also possible to display the name of the specific user identification selected. Furthermore, a symbol for the user identification setting mode appears on the display element after turning on the beverage preparing device. When selecting this symbol, as explained in connection with the first exemplary embodiment, the already existing user identifications are indicated on the display element, and the user identification setting mode previously described for the first exemplary embodiment is selected. In contrast to the first embodiment, where the user identification is selected while the beverage preparing device 2 is turned off, and where beverage preparing device 2 can be activated under this user identification once the selection has been made, here, the selection of the user identification is made while beverage preparing device 2 is turned on. Another difference from the first exemplary embodiment is that this beverage preparing device does not have a preset number of user identifications under which settings can be stored. In the case of the beverage preparing device of this exemplary embodiment, the user identifications are created by the user as required, and only after that can settings be stored under the then existing user identification. If no individual user identifications have been created yet, this beverage preparing device displays the standard user identification and possible program parameters of the setting mode that are settable, such as user identification: create, change, delete, and automatically switch to standard user identification: never, after each dispensing operation, or upon power-up of the beverage preparing device. The desired setting of the particular program parameter is selected as already explained for the first exemplary embodiment. The settings for automatic switching from any user identification to the standard user identification are independent of the other user identifications so that this program parameter is set equally for all user identifications.

Due to the functional and spatial association of control element 6 and 10 to display element 8 and 12, respectively, the beverage preparing device 2, as a household appliance according to the present invention, is improved over the known household appliances in terms of clarity. Since program parameters settings made can be associated with user identifications, stored under these user identifications, and called up by selecting a program, the operation is made much easier even in the case of frequently changing users and a plurality of programs, program parameters and setting options for the parameters, which further improves clarity. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A household appliance comprising: at least one display element; at least one control element configured to: set and select a plurality of user identifications; set a first program parameter setting, the first program parameter setting being useable for a first program sequence of a first program and for a second program sequence of a second program; assign the first program parameter setting to a first user identification of the plurality of user identifications; store the first program parameter setting under the first user identification; select, under the first user identification, the first program so as to retrieve the first program parameter setting; and select, under the first user identification, the second program so as to retrieve the first program parameter setting; and a program control module including a data processing device and a data memory, the at least one control element, the at least one display element, and the data memory being in data communication with the data processing device.
 12. The household appliance as recited in claim 11 wherein: the at least one display element includes a first and a second display element; and the at least one control element includes a first control element and a second control element, the first control element being associated with the first display element and configured to select the first and second programs, the second control element being associated with a second display element and configured to select and set the first program parameter setting and to assign the first program parameter setting to the first user identification.
 13. The household appliance as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one control element is configured to set the first program parameter setting in the first program so as to set, in a third program, a third program parameter setting corresponding to the first program parameter setting.
 14. The household appliance as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one control element has a key.
 15. The household appliance as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one control element includes a rotary encoder having an integrated key feature.
 16. The household appliance as recited in claim 11 further comprising a protective device for preventing unauthorized or unwanted entry of a second program parameter setting under a second user identification of the plurality of user identifications.
 17. The household appliance as recited in claim 16 wherein the protective device includes password protection of access to the second user identification.
 18. The household appliance as recited in claim 11 wherein an input selection of the first user identification or a group of user identifications of the plurality of user identifications is displayable on at least one of a first and a second display element of the at least one display element.
 19. The household appliance as recited in claim 11 wherein: a second user identification of the plurality of user identifications has a form of a standard user identification; and the data processing device is configured to automatically switch from any of the plurality of user identifications to the standard user identification as a function of a predetermined switching criterion.
 20. The household appliance as recited in claim 11 wherein: the household appliance includes a beverage preparing device; and the at least one control element is configured to store the first program parameter setting under the first user identification by the dispensing operation. 